Williams, who was released from prison two weeks earlier, was staying at the Sirhowy Arms Hotel, in the village of Argoed, south Wales which operates as a bail hostel, when staff burst in on the horrific attack and alerted the police.

Officers used a high voltage taser, knocking him to the floor. Moments later, he became unresponsive and died, despite efforts by paramedics to save him.

Lyn Beasley, who lives close to the hotel, said: "He went Hannibal Lecter on the woman, he gouged her eyeballs out, ate them and ate and half her face. He had just been released from prison and was high on coke."

He went Hannibal Lecter on the woman, he gouged her eyeballs out, ate them and ate and half her face. He had just been released from prison and was high on coke.

- Lyn Beasley, local resident

Jill Edwards, who also lives nearby said: "This animal was eating this girl to death. He murdered her so police stopped him. Security said they told him no girls in his room and he didn't answer, when they opened his door he was eating her face."

Gwent Police confirmed both the man and young woman were known to each other. The woman, died from her injuries.

Williams had just served half a five-year prison sentence for a violent attack on his partner who lives nearby.

A local councillor said Argoed, a village in south Wales, had been 'hit for six' by the deaths

The spokeswoman added: "We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and an investigation is underway."

Local councillor and Caerphilly Council deputy mayor Leon Gardiner, 81, said Argoed had been 'hit for six' by the deaths.

"When I went for my paper this morning, I could see the road was closed off and there were police everywhere. When I heard that two people had died, I couldn't believe it," he said.

"Everyone is totally stunned by what has happened. It's a shock because Argoed is a lovely place to live and I've never known anything like this to happen here before."

A murder inquiry has been launched while the use of the taser has been referred to police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission, as is usual practice when anyone dies in custody.